Finnish PM calls for Ukraine to be provided with Tomahawk missiles

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo believes that US President Donald Trump should allow Ukraine to use American long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.

Orpo noted in an interview with Politico that Russia poses a "permanent threat" to Europe's security and called on the US president to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself and force Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

"Putin believes only in power," Orpo said upon arriving in Brussels for the EU leaders' summit. "If we want to stop the war we have to be on the same level or even stronger," he stressed.

Finland is currently one of the EU countries with the strongest influence on Trump, after Finnish President Alexander Stubb forged a friendship with him while playing golf.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pointed out that Putin showed an interest in peace when Trump hinted that he might allow Ukraine to use Tomahawk missiles – and that as soon as Trump excluded the missiles from the talks, Russia withdrew from peace initiatives.

Asked whether Trump should provide Ukraine with the missiles, Orpo said: "I really hope that they can get the capabilities that they need to [counter]strike Russia and defend themselves. We know that this is a question between Zelenskyy and the United States and I really hope they can find a solution."

Orpo's statement comes as the United States imposes large-scale sanctions against Russian state oil companies – the most significant move Trump has made to increase pressure on Putin.

In an address to EU leaders on 23 October, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is counting on receiving long-range missiles, including Tomahawks, from European nations.